A lot of individuals out there tend to set aside their fitness routines during the holidays since they believe that they do not have enough time to perform their workouts.
Always bear in mind that you can enjoy the holidays and stay fit at the same time. If you want to stay fit during the holiday season, especially during Christmas and the New Year’s Eve, here are some useful tips that might help you:
BE ACTIVE
You should still perform your fitness routine whenever possible and if you can’t do that, simply walk more, park your car some distance away from the store or just use the stairs! 1. Winter jogging You will enjoy the great challenge of jogging outdoor. What's good about that? The colder the weather, the less heat stress on the body, which makes it significantly easier to run. Running in hot and humid weather is extremely taxing on the body--there is a reason why the majority of marathons are held in October and November
Get your iPod ready and relieve some of that post-shopping, post-family time stress from the holidays with a brisk jog around your neighborhood or a local park. Be sure to dress warmly, wear comfy shoes, and have plenty of liquids at hand as sweating during winter can cause you to become especially dehydrated. 2. Holidays workouts
If the thought of an outdoor workout is too much to bear, why not buy a couple of fitness DVDs and dumbbells to get fit in your own living room? Pilates and yoga are a great way to strengthen your core and keep in shape. Try to do them early in the morning while everyone else is still sleeping. This way you will also avoid remarks like “Oh, come on! It’s Christmas…”
Make the holidays a family affair and plan outdoor activities where everyone is involved. Even a snowball fight in the backyard will burn a lot of calories and will keep the children entertained.
Attention, shopaholics! If you don’t feel motivated enough for a full workout, go out and have fun shopping. Walking around the mall and trying on pretty clothes won’t only boost your energy; it will also burn 135 calories per hour. Now, that’s a great deal. Check out how the Nike+ Fuelband could help you track and improve your performance! The best way to stay fit during holiday season!
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EAT WELL
The holidays season is all about balancing your temptation for tasty food and your fear for gaining weight. You don't want to start 2015 with 10 extra pounds but does this worth starving yourself and ending up not enjoying your time?
Here are some easy tips on how to enjoy your family gathering without overeating during the winter season:
Here are some easy tips on how to enjoy your family gathering without overeating during the winter season:
1. Eat Before Heading Out
First, it is best that you eat something before heading out to visits, trips or family dinners. By doing so, you will no longer be tempted to eat a lot or overindulge yourself since you have already eaten. Skipping on meals is not a good idea either, because you will only be forced to eat more later.
2. Select The Treats
Make sure to select the treats that you eat in a wise manner. You should choose something that you can only enjoy during the holiday season and not something that is readily available all the time.
3. Eat less and more often
Eat what you love. Remember, there is no such thing as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ food. Moderation and portion control are key to maintaining weight, as deprivation usually leads to overeating.
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1. Drink more water Dehydration can easily be confused with hunger and it contributes to low energy, so keep hydrated to curb hunger and minimise tiredness. Start your day with a big glass of water and set a reminder to drink some more every few hours. Still hungry after a meal? Drink a glass of water to curb that feeling.
2. Don't forget hot drinks
There’s nothing nicer on a cold winter’s day than a soothing cup of hot caffeine-free drink. Both green tea and many herbal teas may help improve your digestion and limit any adverse digestive effects.
Herbal tea is an infusion of leaves, seeds, roots or bark, extracted in hot water: chamomile, rooïbos, peppermint, ginger, cinnamon... |
1. Avoid Skipping Meals Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast! Even though it can be tempting to skip on certain meals, believing that it will make up for the treats you consumed in the previous day, don’t do it because it will only lead to counterproductive results.
2. Drink With Moderation
It is best to regulate your drinking since alcohol, coke or other juices will only add more calories to the ones you already eaten!
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The winter holidays can be tough to get through without putting on extra pounds. However, by following these steps and eating balanced meals to offset the occasional indulgence, you will be able to fully enjoy the holidays without guilt and regret!
Because we know that these healthy and yummy recipes can cheer you up !
Colorful Cobb Salad
Mediterranean Summer Salad
Ingredients 150g Red Cherry Tomatoes 150g Cherry Tomatoes Yellow 1/2 Cucumber large 12 Fresh Basil Leaves 1 Ball Mozzarella 50g Arugula Salt Pepper Vinaigrette 4 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 4 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar 1 tbsp Lemon Juice Preparation 1. Slice tomatoes in half lengthwise. Dice cucumber and mozzarella into 1cm cubes. 2. For the vinaigrette, blend olive oil and vinegar, add freshly squeezed lemon juice and torn basil. 3. Mix arugula with other vegetables, drizzle vinaigrette over it. 4. Season with salt and pepper. Healthy No-Bake Granola Bars
Ingredients 1 cup packed 1/4 cup honey (or CAMP Pure Maple Syrup for vegan option) 1/4 cup PETER PAN Creamy Original Peanut Butter or almond butter 1 cup roasted unsalted almonds, loosely chopped 1 1/2 cups rolled oats Preparation 1. Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a “dough” like consistency. 2. Optional step: Toast your oats in a 350°F oven for around 15 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Otherwise, leave them raw. 3. Place oats, almonds and dates in a bowl – set aside. 4. Warm honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout. 5. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8×8 dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so they lift out easily. 6. Press down until uniformly flattened. Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let set in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes to harden. 7. Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars. Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. Lemon Iced Tea
Ingredients 1900ml water 4 black tea bags 4 bags hibiscus-based herb tea 375g raspberries 110g sugar, or more, to taste 2 oranges, juiced 2 lemons, juiced 2 limes, juiced Orange, lemon, and lime slices, for garnish Preparation Bring water to a boil and steep with the two teas. After tea has steeped dark enough, remove bags, and add raspberries. Add and dissolve sugar, to taste. Add orange, lemon, and lime juice. Pass the whole mixture through a fine sieve, pressing on the raspberries to get their juice. Then let the mixture drain through a moistened towel-lined sieve into a deep bowl or pitcher, to remove the cloudy impurities. Chill and serve over ice with orange, lemon, and lime slices for garnish. |
Ingredients
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked to your liking, chopped 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped ½ head iceberg lettuce, cut into chunks Handful of fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped 3 hardboiled eggs, peeled, sliced 100 g bacon, cooked crispy, chopped 250 g small red tomatoes, halved 1 avocado, removed from skin, diced Heap of feta cheese, crumbled (Weight-watching? Try reduced-fat feta!) Black pepper Your favorite dressing Preparation 1.Toss the greens in a large bowl or platter. 2. Arrange the chicken, eggs, bacon, tomatoes, feta and avocados in separate piles across the lettuce. 3. Sprinkle pepper over the salad to personal preference. 4. Serve with dressing! Mango Avocado Prawn Salad
Ingredients 3 tbsp. fresh lime juice 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp. sugar 2 large mangoes 2 avocados 80g thinly sliced shallots 50g chopped cilantro 450g tiger prawns, cooked and peeled Optional 1 tbsp. dried chili or fresh Thai bird chili Preparation 1. In a large bowl, whisk together the freshly squeezed lime juice, olive oil, and sugar until the sugar dissolves. 2. Dice mangoes and avocados into 2 cm cubes or long slices, and add to the other ingredients in the bowl. 3. Add shallots, cilantro, and chilies. 4. Place whole shrimp on top for a great finish. 5. Serve or cover and chill for up to 1 hour. Raspberry Maple Pancakes
Ingredients 475 ml milk 250g wheat flour 2 eggs 15g baking powder 50g butter a pinch of salt fresh raspberries 60ml maple syrup Optional whipping cream fresh mint leaves icing sugar Preparation 1. In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, blend the egg, milk and the maple syrup together. Stir in the dry ingredients until well mixed. 2. Melt a pat of butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Pour batter into the pan and fry until bubbles form on top of the pancake. Flip and fry until the second side is golden brown. 3. Serve with fresh raspberries. Add some whipped cream, icing sugar, or fresh mint leaves on top. Winter Fruit Compote
Ingredients 500g Fruit Bliss Soft Dried Fruit Medley 200ml fresh orange juice or Florida's Natural Orange Juice half MASTER FOODS Cinnamon Quills 6 cloves 6 MASTER FOODS Black Peppercorns (whole) FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt, to serve Preparation 1. Tip the dried fruit, orange juice and whole spices into a microwaveable bowl. 2. Microwave on High for 4-5 mins, stirring halfway through until the juices become sticky and the fruits are plump. 3. Leave the compote to stand for a minute and serve in bowls with spoonfuls of yogurt. The Green Giant
Ingredients 1. 1 cup spinach (steamed or microwaved); 2. 3 stalks celery; 3. 1/2 cup cucumber; 4. 1/4 cup parsley; 5. 1 green apple; 6. 1 tbs lime juice; 7. 1 tbs lemon juice; 8. 1/2 tsp ginger. Preparation Simply peel, chop or pour the ingredients into the blender and mix. Dragon Fruit, Carrot Juice
Ingredients 1 dragon fruit 2 mini carrots 2 tbsp lemon juice Preparation 1. Scrape outer skin of carrots and dragon fruit. 2. Cut carrots and dragon fruit into chunks then place them in the juicer. 3. And some lemon juice.(Based on your taste) 4. Pour into glass and drink! Enjoy! (Best served with crushed ice) |